What Electric and Driverless Cars Mean for the Future of Automotive Fleetmatics

By Cesar Yepez

June 22, 2016

Most people understand that there are positive implications surrounding electric cars and their lesser influence on the environment, however, on a very practical level, it is important to see how they will effect the lives of many in a more fundamental way.

As it is that not everyone is equally as earth-consciousness as others, we at Carmine still want to acknowledge that additional benefits exist in the same shift of vehicle, just for simpler reasons.

Ultimately, electric and driverless cars are likely going to effect more than our immediate surroundings. Our automotive future is shifting to a place that will clearly impact our air, our pockets, and our efficiency as well.

Costs

Focusing first on the idea of our pockets, it is critical to note that things are not that simple. On an individual level, battery replacement for electric cars is typically much more expensive than your average engine problem and original costs on non-luxury vehicles tend to vary greatly.

In the long run, however, the effect on the automotive world of fleet management and telematics may be substantial.

“At a national level, gas-powered cars cost around three times as much per mile as electric vehicles. Gas prices currently clock in at an average $3.65 a gallon, while electric vehicles fill up for just $1.14 per eGallon.”

While gas prices are now sitting somewhere below three dollars that doesn’t change the fact that, despite the constant fluctuation, it is still true that eGallons fall far below in cost.

Ultimately, it is easy to see why, on a grand scale, electric vehicles can also mean enormous savings. With a compatible convoy of electric vehicles you can also quickly report the savings for your entire fleet, highlight top and bottom performers, and keep up-to-date, automated, and comprehensive reports to deliver to your colleagues, executives, and external stakeholders.

Moreover, according to FleetCarma, this way you can support your drivers better too.

By providing them with the information they need to understand the main factors in electric vehicle efficiency, they can use that knowledge to optimize the use of the vehicle without sacrificing either comfort or productivity. Not to mention that they will then have the tools they need to differentiate between normal vehicle behavior and potential vehicle issues, thus maintaining the safety and compatibility of your entire fleet – both the drivers and their vehicles.

All of that tells us something important though, which is that this interactive communication with systems of service is critical to making electronic vehicles, and their ownership, a success. Onboard communication, positioning systems, embedded vehicle telematics, and the like are all essential for an effective, cost-efficient, and earth-conscious fleet.

Truly, there are many factors.

Where to charge, when to charge, what route to take in order to do so? How to make the switch even?

Perhaps what matters most, however, is that we’re getting there. We potentially have the technology and the hope and the means to make the leap. At this point though it is undeniable that electric and driverless cars are impacting the future of automotive, but it’s hard to tell exactly how, as the future is now.

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